Scientists have recently discovered a new planet outside of the Milkyway galaxy. This planet, if it meets the technical qualifications necessary to be a planet, could be the first found outside of our galaxy. This unnamed exoplanet was discovered using the Chandra X-Ray Telescope and a technique called the x-ray transit method. This method involves recording a planet when it passes over a star and blocks its x-rays.
“We are trying to open up a whole new arena for finding other worlds by searching for planet candidates at X-ray wavelengths, a strategy that makes it possible to discover them in other galaxies,” says physicist Rosanne Di Stefano of the Harvard Center for Astrophysics.
“Unfortunately to confirm that we’re seeing a planet we would likely have to wait decades to see another transit,” co-author astrophysicist Nia Imara, of the University of California at Santa Cruz, said about possibilities of further research. “And because of the uncertainties about how long it takes to orbit, we wouldn’t know exactly when to look.” Since there lies a black hole in the middle of the galaxy, there is the possibility that the planet survived a supernova explosion. The planet also likely contains high levels of radiation.
The planet lies in the Messier-51 system, approximately 31 million light years away from Earth. The process of using an X-Ray telescope will continue to allow for scientists to study planets and space objects out of reach of a normal telescope. Since the black hole glows in X-Rays, anything that passes in front of it, ie. a planet, will block the radiation and register in the Chandra telescope.
The system’s sun is about 20 times larger than our Sun. Based on the measurements taken from the telescope, this means that the new planet would be similar to the size of Saturn. Based on its size, however, there is the possibility that the planet is not in fact a planet and actually a cloud of dust circulating around the system.
Barstow students interested in learning more about aerospace sciences and planet discovery should take note of important intragalactic events such as this. NASA has an array of opportunities for high school students to learn more about space, and programs worth college credit. In 2019, a high school intern discovered a new planet on the third day of his participation in the program. These programs could give science-interested Barstow students a way to become more involved in what could become a future career.
